N Chandrababu Naidu directs officials to fast-track swine flu tests

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to ensure that the medical tests for swine flu are conducted within 5-6 hours so that treatment for patients can be started at the earliest.

Naidu, who held a review on the spread of deadly virus, asked officials to submit a report to him within 24 hours. He wanted details of areas where the H1N1 virus is prevalent, the reasons for its spread and the severity of the situation, a government release said.

Asking officials to take preventive measures, the Chief Minister suggested that those detected with swine flu should be given treatment immediately.

Medical tests have to be conducted within 5-6 hours of admission, he said, adding this would enable doctors to start treatment at the earliest. Of the 79 people who have got admitted, 37 have been tested positive for the infection.

"The Chief Minister said that officials should submit a daily report to him on the number of people detected with the virus. He added that these details should also be uploaded online on the Health Department's dashboard (an internal communication system)."

Till now, four persons have succumbed to the virus in Andhra Pradesh, Information Minister P Raghunatha Reddy said here.

Meanwhile, speaking at a function in East Godavari district, Deputy Chief Minister N Chinarajappa said the Government has decided to set up swine flu testing centres at Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and other important cities in the State.

Currently, there is only one swine flu testing centre (in Hyderabad) and at a recent Cabinet meeting, it was decided to set up such facilities in important cities, he said.